TRS Govt will ditch Singareni workers: Ponguleti

October 1, 2017, 9:54 PM IST

Alleging that the Singareni Collieries Company management was behaving unilaterally, Congress deputy leader in the Council Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy has said the ruling party will not fulfill its assurances if it was elected in the Singareni union elections. He also alleged that the State government indulged in Rs 60 crore scam by selling B-grade coal as F-grade coal in the market.

Speaking to the media on the Assembly premises here on Sunday, Ponguleti said liquor and money were flowing against election rules. Urging Singareni workers to ensure victory of the candidates contesting on ‘Star’ symbol, the MLC said the Singareni workers will get justice in case the Opposition parties win the elections. He said nine persons, who lost their lands for coal mining of Open Cast-1 in Sathupalli, died of mental stress. Due to the negligence of the State government, two more persons Peddireddy Mahesh and Chinna Pullaiah died, he said and demanded that the State government release ex gratia to the members of the bereaved families.

Reminding that the State government had assured to construct quarters to the workers, Ponguleti said there was no mention of the issue by the State government about quarters. Alleging that the government was diverting CSR funds to Siddipet and Sircilla Assembly constituencies, he said the Singareni workers were facing respiratory problems due to heavy pollution. The State government, which stated that it will transform Singareni into Gold, was trying to privatize it.

The MLC also said the State government has already started moves to privatize the Tadicherla Block-2 mine. He said he would raise the issue in the Assembly. He also asked the State government to spend Singareni Shape Funds for health of workers and development activities. He exuded confidence that the Congress would emerge victorious in 2019 elections. (NSS)